Being cut from the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team appears to be extra motivation for Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. The No. 1 overall pick sent coach Christy Sides a very blunt message after hearing the news.
Despite his superstar status, Clark was not one of the 12 players selected to represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The rookie wasn't disappointed by the decision not to make the team, but told Sides it gave him something to work towards.
“We actually talked on the bus. She got a call on the bus and she texted me and let me know. I was just trying to keep her morale up,” Sides told reporters. “She was like, 'Coach, they woke up a monster,' and I thought that was awesome.”
Clarke is having a solid rookie season, averaging 16.8 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game through the first month of the WNBA season, but she is struggling with turnovers, averaging 5.6 per game.
This year's Olympic roster features 12 highly talented athletes. Those selected include Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Kahliah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty), Jewel Loyd (Seattle Storm), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun), A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) and Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces).
Clarke said she was still rooting for her team after learning the news and hopes they win the gold medal.
“I'm excited for the girls that are on the team. I know that as a team they are the most competitive team in the world and I know that it could have gone either way whether I was on the team or not,” Clark said. “So I'm excited for them to do well. I'm rooting for them to win the gold medal. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics so it's going to be fun to watch them do well.”
The silver lining? Clarke will finally be able to rest after a grueling year. The rookie had to make the sudden transition from college to the WNBA, plus have the media following her every move. With the Olympics approaching, she'll be able to take some time off.
Said told reporters he was disappointed to see Clarke gone but knew he had plenty of opportunities to make the elite Olympic team in the future.
“Yeah, of course I'm a little disappointed. She's my player,” she said. “It's the hardest team in the world to make. It's a tough team. She's young and she's going to have a lot of opportunities in the future.”
